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(No Model.) 0. PRATT -& J. A. SULLIVAN ,GAR COUPLING.

No. 251,940. Patented Jan. 3,1882.

\ flw m a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PRATT AND JOHN A. SULLIVAN, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,940, dated January 3, 1882.

Application filed September 9, 1881. (No model.)

a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figurel of the drawings is a sectional elevation of one of the draw-heads, showing the weighted latch in position previous to coupling and supporting the coupling-pin in an elevated position; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the draw-heads, showing the parts in position after being coupled.

The present invention has relation to that class of car -couplers in which a weighted tumbling-latch pivoted to the draw-head is employed for supporting and holding up the coupling-pin until said latch is thrust back by the entering link,which allows the pin to drop down and couple the link of the opposite drawhead.

The invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter described, and subsequently pointed out in the claim..

'Iuthe accompanying drawings, A, repre: sents the draw-head, to which is pivoted the weighted latch B, the same having an incline shoulder, a, upon which rests the lower end of a coupling-pin, b, when said pin is an elevated position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The slant or inclination of the shoulder a is such as to prevent the weight of the pin. forcingdown the latch B sufficiently to slip oif the shoulder, as would be the case were the shoulder perfectly straight or horizontal. The upper end or head of the coupling-pin b is connected to the rear end of the latch B by a suitable chain or cord, 0. The object of the chain c is to draw the pin 1) to a perpendicular position when the coupling-link d is withdrawn, so it can'drop onto the inclined shoulder a to. support it in an elevated position.

The draw-head A is formed with a seat, e,

for supporting the rear end of the weighted latch B and holding it in position, as shown in Fig. 1, also serving as a stop for the latch. The coupling head or draw-bar is cut away, as shown at f, to allow the pin b to assume an incline position, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

In the operation of our invention, when it is desired to uncouple the cars the pin b is raised by a lever, chain, or any of the wellknown means usually employed for the purpose. When the pin is elevated to the required height that portion of the draw-head cut away, as shown at f, willadmit the coupling-pin by its own weight to assume the position or angle as illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the pin being supported in such position by its end resting on the weighted latch B above its pivotal connection. In this position the brakeman can leave the draw-heads of the several cars and go about other work that he may have. When the cars are separated from each other the coupling-links at will be withdrawn, the latches B will fall to the position shown in Fig. 1, and in so doing the chain 0 will draw the coupling-pin b to a vertical position, and by its own weight will fall so as to rest upon the shoulder a. The chain or cord 0 is of such length as to insure against the possibility of the pin jolting out of the draw-head when the cars are in motion.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim 'as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a car-coupler, the combination, with the draw-head A, having the hole for the coupling-pin cut away, as shown at f, of the pivoted weighted latch B, provided with shoulder a, and connected to pin 1) by chain or cord a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that we claim the-above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES PRATT. 7

JOHN A. SULLIVAN. Witnesses:

J os. E. ALEXANDER, R0121. URoMwELL. 

